turnsole
any of several plants regarded as turning with the movement of the sun.
a European plant, Chrozophora tinctoria, of the spurge family, yielding a purple dye.
the purple dye prepared from this plant; litmus.
Origin of turnsole
1Words Nearby turnsole
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use turnsole in a sentence
The lower part from a was filled with water tinged blue, or rather purple, with the juice of turnsole, or archil.
Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air | Joseph PriestleyHe styles the colouring substance itself cutbear, persio, or turnsole; and distributes the lichens as follows:—1st.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines | Andrew UreThe lichen which produces archil is subjected to another preparation, to make turnsole (litmus).
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines | Andrew UreA violet tint is given by the tinctures of turnsole and cochineal.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines | Andrew Ure
British Dictionary definitions for turnsole
/ (ˈtɜːnˌsəʊl) /
any of various plants having flowers that are said to turn towards the sun
a euphorbiaceous plant, Croton tinctoria, of the Mediterranean region that yields a purple dye
the dye extracted from this plant
Origin of turnsole
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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